ondiveeran history

5/19/12

BRIEF HISTORY OF

MAHAVEER ONDI VEERAn PAGADAI

(FREEDOM FIGHTER)

 

King Puli Thevar belonged to the Kondayam-Kottai subcaste of the Maravar.   who ruled Nerkattumseval situated in the Sankarankoil taluk ofTamil Nadu is traditionally recognized as one of the 72 palaiyams of Madurai and  Thalapathi Ondi Veeran Pagadai belonged to the Arunthathiyar Community  (Scheduled Caste) was his Chief of Army & Espionage wing and  close friend of Puli Thevar.  They are known to be the First Freedom Fighters of India. Their territories were of small extent, but their influence throughout the whole of the western part of  Tirunelveli  was immense.  They are the firstIndian kings to have fought and defeated the British.

"Nel kattum sevval" literally translates to "Rice tribute paying place", but after its ruler Puli Thevar's successful (initially) attempts at defying Mohammed Ali, the name changed to nel kattan sevval ("place which doesn't pay rice tribute").

            Puli Thevar remains one of the illustrious figures in the chequered history of Palayakarars. He was the principal architect of the coalition of the Palayakarars organised against the Nawab.   The Nawab acknowledged his victory by presenting him with a gold plate and sword. 

In 1754, after Muhammed Ali had finally established himself as the Nawab of Arcot, Col. Alexander Hamilton was appointed to lead the troops that would establish his rule in Tirulneveli.  Many Palayakarars paid their arrears and acknowledged the nawab’s suzerainty, but the Western Bloc of palayakarars led by the Puli Thevar of Nerkattumseval, refused to do so.   No amount of British force could make them submit and, having tasted independence,   were averse to the idea of being dependent once again.  All the palayakarars in the West (except Sivagiri) formed a coalition to defend their independence.

These palayams declared their independence in 1757.  Yusuf Khan, or Marudhanayagam, was sent by the British to bring the palayakarars under control and make them pay kisthi (Tax). Earlier campaigns in 1755 by Mahfuz Khan were unsuccessful in subduing the palayakarars' partly because of their sticking to each other and partly because British troops had to be withdrawn to raise the French siege of Madras.  

Thalapathi Ondi Veeran